Improvement in car-couplings



'w. n. RINEHART.

ar-Go'uplings.

` Patemedmay 26,1874.-

- WIVJEEEEE l 'I OFFICE.

XVILLIAM D. RINEIIART, OF ALLEGHENY CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

EMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLlNGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. lli, dated May 26,1874; application filed March 6, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLrAM D. BINE- IIART, of Allcghenyllity, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Draw-Head and Coupling, and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspeeiiication, in which- Figure l is a side view of my improveddrawhead, as attached to the timbers. Fig. 2 is a side view of thedevice for operating and locking the coupling-hook, and Fig. 3 is a viewof the lock.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

My invention consists of an improved construction of the draw head, andin an improved eoupling specially adapted to my drawhead.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willdescribe its construction and mode of operation.

I make the head a of the usual form, having a bell-mouth, b, a pocket,c, containing the bllower-plates d., and draftspring c. EX- tendinglongitudinally through the head a is a bar, f, which I term thedraft-bar. 'Ihe rear end of the har is iittcd with a collar, g, betweenwhich and the end of the head is a spring, h. The front end ofthe bar jis iitted with the coupling device. In order to adapt the bar to thisdevice, which is automatic or self-coupling, I pivot the forward end atj". The front side of the hook t' is beveled or inclined, as at 1,sothat when struck by the link k it shall throw up and allow it to pass.ln order to uncouple the cars without going between them to direct thelink at any angle in coupling cars of different heights, and to lock thehook 4i either down or up, I make a lifter, m, having handles or cranksm1 at both sides of the ear, and a center arm, m2, projecting throughthe slot i2 in the handle'of the hook t'. At one side of the car thereis a stop, a, for locking the lever m to hold the hook either up ordown. I

The operation is as follows: The relative position of the head andcoupling-hook is such that the former must be pressed back before thecars can be coupled. This position is the result of the pressure of thespring h throwing the head forward. The head is then always in positionto prevent or take up any slack between the opposite heads. rIhe greaterthe strain or draft the more certainly will the slack be prevented,because the entire d att is on the bar f, and it presses on the springl1. The jar of the cars in coming together is suiiicient to force backthe heads and couple them. For uncoupling or directing the link the hookis operated from the outside by the handles m. To lock the hook i eitherup or down, the rod or lifter m is pushed or drawn out laterally untilthe handle m1 will swing free of the stop a. This lateral movement ispermitted by the slot 2. The handle m2 is then turned forward if it isdesired to raise the hook, or back it it is desired to lock it down, andthen pushed inward until it locks on the stop, as shown in Fig. 3. Thelatter position prevents the h-ook from springing up and uncoupling.

The advantages accruing from the use of my invention are very great. Theracking and jarring of the cars during the braking, stopping, andstarting of the train are almost entirely obviated. On trains in whichthe airbrake is used it is customary to insert a wooden plug or pin intothe link between the heads to take up the slack and prevent jarring,which has been found to be injurious to the brake-attachments. Thisexpense is Vunnecessary where my improvement is used.

I am aware that rubber buffers have been placed on the rigid bar whichruns back through the cross-timber of the ear, so to bear against thetimber on both sides, but such rubber sprin'gsor buffers do not andcannot operate to throw forward the head for the purpose of taking upthe slack.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A draw-bar, f, having the link-connection at its forward end, incombination with a spring mounted upon it and bearing against the head,for the purpose of drawing the head forward to take up the slack, asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I, the said WILLIAM D. RINEIIART, have hereunto setmy hand.

WM. D. RINEHART.

. Witnesses:

J AMns I. KAY, HUGH Quiere.

